Visa-liberalization will start on March 29
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, February 10
Brussels Reporter of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFERL), Rikard Jozwiak, reports that the visa-free regime between Georgia and European Union (EU) will likely enter into force on March 29.
Moreover, Jozwaik’s Twitter post reads that EU ambassadors are set to approve visa-liberalization of Georgia and the agreed suspension mechanism on February 22.
The reporter also wrote about Ukraine’s visa-liberalization issue, saying the trialogue on visa liberalization for Ukraine between the European Parliament, Commission and Council is set to take place on February 28.
Jozwaik says that Ukraine’s visa-liberalization will go into force on June 12, 2017.
The European Parliament (EP) supported Georgia’s visa-liberalization with 553 votes for and 66 against on February 2. The voting process was preceded by debates.
The EP decision means that after the completion of some technical procedures, biometric passport-holder Georgians will be able to enter the European Union for 90 days within any 180-day period for a holiday, business or any other purpose, except working.
The visa waiver applies to the Schengen Area, which includes 22 EU member states (all except Ireland, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria) in addition to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
After the final approval of European Parliament, the regulations will be published in the official journal of the EU.
Visa-free travel will be granted to Georgia upon entry into force of the amended suspension mechanism regulation.
The Georgian authorities expect this to take place at the end of March or early April.
